Chilliwack – The Chilliwack Alano Club is going through a funding crisis, similar to other recovery based, non-religious organizations.
Located in the heart of downtown Chilliwack, or more notably, “in the hood” of Victoria and Nowell, the Alano Club, a nonprofit organization, keeps the doors open for a clean and sober social environment.
There are a few misconceptions about the Alano Club.
First it is not an extension of any 12 step organization.
They DO rent rooms to 12 Step groups including Alcoholics Anonymous, Alanon, CODA – Co Dependent’s Anonymous as well as anyone wishing to rent the meeting room for a clean and sober function.
That includes wedding receptions, memorials, funerals, business meetings without alcohol served, Easter Egg hunts and the arrival of Santa Claus for the kids.
Recently, the BC Gaming Association has reviewed many of these groups including the Alano Clubs in Chilliwack, Abbotsford and Kamloops. For whatever reason (and not made clear to the clubs nor their advocate, the Fraser Valley Charitable Community Gaming Association) , they have been audited. The concern is that the delay of major funding has caused some of these non-profits to scale back hours, events or in the case of Kamloops, consider shutting their doors.
The Chilliwack Alano Club has gone to fundraising before. Last year, an unsuccessful Facebook fundraiser didn’t work that well, so the decision was made to start a GoFundMe page.
The Alano GoFundMe page can be found here.
The Chilliwack BC Alano Club society started in the 1950’s and has been in it’s current building since 1982 The 60 year old building was gifted to the society.
From the GoFundMe page: The Alano Club is in dire need of upgrades that the Society simply can not afford to do anymore. The Club does receive a number of gaming grants and other small stipends, but in today’s dollars, they can not pay for everything that is needed. This is from improvements to the washrooms, to the roof, upkeep to make the building accessible to all and family friendly.
The Chilliwack Alano Club Facebook Page can be found here.
